Keshaun S. Coatie

GAYLORD — A 25-year-old South St. Paul man accused of the attempted murder of a woman in November 2020 in Winthrop is in Sibley County Jail custody.

Keshaun Schelven Coatie was charged with felony attempted first degree murder in Sibley County Court in May 2021 and an arrest warrant was filed.

Coatie was booked at the Sibley County Jail Feb. 2. He appeared in Sibley County Court Feb. 3. Unconditional cash or bond was set at $1 million; $75,000 cash or $750,000 bond with conditions. He was granted a public defender. An omnibus hearing was set for 11 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 23.

Coatie was convicted of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon Jan. 4, 2021 in Hennepin County Court for a Nov. 30, 2020 shooting in south Minneapolis. He was sentenced to three years in prison and credited with two years served.

According to court documents, Jessica S. Holtz, 27, of Winthrop survived being shot multiple times after answering a knock at the door at 309 West 3rd Street in Winthrop at 12:18 a.m. Nov. 2, according to court documents. She was transported to New Ulm Medical Center, then airlifted to Hennepin County Medical Center.

Holtz told investigators she was shot by a black man in a grey, hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled up, wearing a light-colored medical facemask. She said the man asked for directions, pointed a gun at her and shot her.

Investigators believe Coatie shot Holtz because she planned to testify in a court against Coatie’s friend, David Harris, with whom she allegedly conspired to steal from a New Auburn gas station. Both Holtz and Harris were charged with felony theft in Sibley County.

Law enforcement obtained multiple area surveillance videos and discovered a vehicle circling Holtz’ residence at the time of the shooting. An investigation showed the vehicle was registered to Holly Berry Watson, Brianna Nicole Watson’s sister.

In an interview with law enforcement, Brianna Watson admitted to being the primary driver of the vehicle in surveillance video. She also admitted to driving Coatie from the Twin Cities to Winthrop Nov. 1-2, stopped on a dark Winthrop street and Coatie told her to stay in the car. Coatie was gone about four minutes before Watson said she heard gun shots, Coatie returned, and they drove away.

Location data from Brianna Watson’s phone corroborates her statement and shows she was in contact with a phone known to be used by McKenzie Ariana Cass around the time of the shooting. Cass was in a relationship with Harris. Both of them admit to being together in Wisconsin at the time of the shooting. Watson said Coatie was using her phone at the time of the shooting.